Chapter 883 (1): Little Ruoyu Shakes the Capital

Ling Ruoyu could not understand why Her Majesty regarded her with such a complicated gaze.

Everyone else had treated her kindly. Logically speaking, the two who most resented Ye Wuming were Jiuyou and Piaomiao, and it was they who should dislike her. And yet, both were surprisingly kind to her. After all, River of Stars had been cultivated into Ling Ruoyu in part due to their efforts. They regarded her with the fondness of artisans admiring their own masterpiece. Their demeanor toward her was almost grandmotherly. Even if they privately grumbled about Ye Wuming, they never took it out on the younger generation. What kind of top-tier demon gods would stoop to such pettiness?

Ling Ruoyu did not have time to decipher Xia Chichi’s attitude. Regardless of any domestic hierarchy, to the outside world, the Empress of the Heavenly Han, who had ruled with unshakable might for three decades, was not someone to trifle with. No one dared show disrespect in her presence. The moment Xia Chichi arrived, the chaotic field fell into immediate order. Silence descended like a curtain, and all eyes awaited her judgment.

From atop the city walls, Xia Chichi cast a serene gaze over the crowd. Her eyes paused briefly on Zhao Changhe, who was trying to melt into the throng, and then she finally spoke. “Young women these days... truly brimming with energy. When I first entered the

jianghu

at that age, I had the Four Idols Cult behind me and Venerable Vermillion Bird watching over me, yet I still lived every day with utmost caution. These days, one has to wonder what mountains the youth are leaning on.”

Ling Ruoyu blinked.

Well, that was a provocative remark alright.

The implication was clear: your backing—Ye Wuming and Yue Hongling—must be even more powerful than the Vermillion Bird. One had to wonder what the actual Vermillion Bird, who had just traveled with them by boat, thought of that statement.

Of course, most listeners missed the subtext. One flatterer piped up, “Your Majesty was born into chaos and carved peace from turmoil. Today’s youth thrive in a golden age precisely because of your achievements. The blessings of our peaceful era are thanks to the trees planted by those before us.”

From beside Xia Chichi, Cui Yuanyang’s head peeked out innocently.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The flatterer quickly tacked on, “Naturally, the glory is shared with King Zhao and Bureau Chief Cui, a most exemplary couple.”

Xia Chichi smiled gently at him. “Vice-Minister Dai, your words are wise as always. Now, please go and copy the Laws of the Great Han three times.”

Vice-Minister Dai: “?”

Everyone knew Her Majesty had a fondness for punishing people by making them copy the laws. No one was sure what nerve the poor man had touched.

Could the scandalous rumors be true, that King Zhao had sullied the imperial court, sharing both the empress and empress dowager? Surely not...

But with the current grip the imperial court holds over the public, how do such rumors even survive? Could it be because... No way...

Xia Chichi cleared her throat. “To say this girl hasn’t weathered storms is a bit unfair. Just a few days ago, she escorted the sacred saber southward, fighting two or three dozen battles in a single day. Brash? Yes, but unmistakably cut from the same cloth as King Zhao. This so-called challenge may seem arrogant, but it’s a tradition he began all those years back. She is not to be blamed.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Was that supposed to be praise?

Xia Chichi continued, “Her efforts in guarding the saber deserve commendation. Whether in the capital or the provinces, all citizens are mine. The capital’s warriors should show some dignity. If the girl challenges you, then meet her with your strength. That is what makes for a tale worthy of the

jianghu

. Do not rely on numbers to win. That is unbecoming of martial arts honor.”

Though she appeared to be praising Ling Ruoyu, there was no mention of any real reward. She was merely laying down the law: uphold fairness and do not gang up. Whether it was praise or warning, no one could say. The will of the sovereign was not so easily deciphered.

But at least her decree made one thing clear: the Empress intended to let this girl challenge the capital’s Ranking of Man figures.

Huang Youde stepped forward. “But blades have no eyes. If someone is seriously injured...”

Xia Chichi cast him a sidelong glance. “I will ensure that no one is harmed.”

Internally, she sighed.

This is to protect you. No matter what, you’re still my people. I can’t just let you get chopped to bits by some upstart. In truth, it’s you who’ve been coddled, not her. The one getting thrown into the fire is Zhao Changhe’s kid.

Huang Youde, oblivious to all this subtext, looked almost disappointed. He turned to Ling Ruoyu and said solemnly, “Girl, remember that there’s always someone stronger. The heroes of the capital are not to be trifled with. Today, you will learn your place.”

Ling Ruoyu, having finished watching the spectacle and analyzing the empress’s attitude, thought to herself,

Finally, time for business.

She offered a respectful salute. “I am looking forward to your guidance.”

Xia Chichi curled her lips.

This isn’t just about Ye Wuming. The posture, the presence, the words... It's all too damn similar to Yue Hongling. It’s only right to bully her a little.

Shing!

Huang Youde drew his sword and pointed it at her. “Draw your sword!”

Ling Ruoyu, whose expression had been calm to the point of inscrutability, suddenly narrowed her gaze, sharp as a drawn blade. Her tone was calm as she said, “For the likes of you, my sword is unnecessary.”

Xia Chichi: “?”

Well then, she sure knows how to act tough. If nothing else, her master and father certainly taught her how to put on a good front.

Across the field, Huang Youde trembled with rage. “Then your so-called journey of challenge ends here!”

Whoosh!

Sword light flashed as he moved forward

Zhao Changhe, unfazed, uncorked his gourd and took a leisurely swig of wine.

Just as the wine hit his throat, the sword light reached Ling Ruoyu’s.

She shifted slightly. A subtle step, a faint sway of the body—and then, with a sudden flick of her right hand that was still gripping the scabbard...

Clang!

Her sword shot out halfway, and the pommel squarely struck Huang Youde’s wrist.

He had been watching her movements the entire time. The trajectory had been clear. And yet, somehow, impossibly, it was as if he had walked right into it. There was no room for doubt; the strike landed clean. A numbing jolt ran through his arm, and his sword dropped to the ground.

Ling Ruoyu’s sword slid cleanly back into its scabbard just as Huang Youde’s sword clattered at her feet. Everything happened in unison, synchronized with the soft thunk of Zhao Changhe returning his gourd to his belt.

Huang Youde stared at his trembling hand in disbelief, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He had not even seen where it all went wrong.

The entire place fell into stunned silence. They all stood dazed as they watched a young girl stand tall and steady.

A duel against another on the Ranking of Man, resolved without even drawing her sword. Half a move, and it was over.

Was this still even a battle between two figures on the Ranking of Man? This was more like someone of the Ranking of Earth casually demolishing someone on the Ranking of Man.

People could not make sense of what they had just seen. There was no illusion, no mystery; the movements were simple and clear. And yet a man whose strength, on paper, matched hers had been unable to respond at all.

Xia Chichi leaned over and murmured to Cui Yuanyang, “That kind of anticipatory counter, luring the opponent into hitting himself, is that part of Yue Hongling’s new style? It doesn’t feel like her.”

Cui Yuanyang answered breezily, “No. We watched her practice this week, and it’s definitely not from Yue Hongling. Supposedly, Big Brother Zhao taught her this on their journey south. He was pretending to be some kind of ancient demon god offering guidance to a junior. Also... I suspect this wasn’t just prediction. There was probably a touch of time and space involved. Otherwise, even with great foresight, someone at Huang Youde’s level wouldn’t be this helpless.”

Xia Chichi fell silent for a moment. “Though unlocking the Profound Mysteries opens the link between heaven and earth, the manipulation of time and space is still no easy feat...”

“Don’t forget that she’s River of Stars,” Cui Yuanyang said lightly. “She didn’t even use her true power this time. But that innate affinity is already her greatest form of cheating. No one can really fight her on equal terms. All she needs now is experience. Endless battle experience.”

Xia Chichi nodded slowly and declared, “This match goes to Ling Ruoyu. Who else will step forward?”

An awkward silence settled over the field.

Just moments ago, the sight of a sixteen-year-old girl strutting into the capital, challenging all who dared show up, had struck the city’s martial artists as laughably arrogant. They believed that she was obviously begging for a lesson in humility. It was only now that they recalled who she truly was: officially recognized by the Tome of Troubled Times as the eighteenth-ranked figure on the Ranking of Man, a challenger who had fought her way up the ranks in the Grand Canal.

She had earned the right to be arrogant.

And now, Ling Ruoyu drew her sword in full for the first time. The sword emitted a dragon’s roar as it emerged. “Is there no hero here willing to grant me the honor of their instruction?”

The breeze swept gently across the field, lifting her hair as it danced behind her like a banner in the wind.

“She’s exactly like her father was back then,” murmured Huangfu Qing. She was standing atop the city wall, wearing the Vermillion Bird mask. Her eyes shimmered with nostalgic remembrance.

No one stepped forward.

Xia Chichi smirked faintly, then turned toward one of the officials at her side. “Vice-Minister Dai. If I recall, you’re ranked thirtieth on the Ranking of Man?”

“Ah... yes, Your Majesty. As of two days ago, I rose to the twenty-ninth rank.”

“Then go.”

“...Pardon?”

“What’s the matter? Are you afraid of challenging someone just because they’re ranked slightly above you? If that’s the martial spirit of the Great Han, then our decline is already upon us.”

Vice-Minister Dai bowed in alarm. “I meant no such thing, Your Majesty. I shall go at once.”

Xia Chichi pointed to others nearby. “You. And you. And you. You’re all on the Ranking of Man, so step forward.”

The named men exchanged looks of unease. Vice-Minister Dai had not hesitated earlier because he lacked courage, but because, as a court official, dueling a young girl from the common people felt... improper. If he won, so what? If he lost, well, that would be mortifying.

But now, it was clear that Her Majesty intended to personally assign them to fight. This was not just a duel anymore—it was a trial. They were being commanded to test this girl.

Does Her Majesty not care that this might tarnish the prestige of her court?

Cui Yuanyang beamed. “What’s with those looks on your faces? She bears a jade token from the Demon Suppression Bureau. No matter how you slice it, this still counts as a win for the imperial court. Just go.”

“...”

The three officials had barely leaped down from the city wall when a flash of sword light flared ahead. The first to step into the ring, Vice-Minister Dai, had already been forced into a hasty retreat. He was defeated by Ling Ruoyu in less than three moves.

Still, that was better than Huang Youde, and he had not exactly disgraced the court. Xia Chichi did not mind. Smiling, she said, “Not bad. As a reward, you’re exempt from copying the Laws of the Great Han three times.”